The Best Holiday Gifts are Free(mium)

At least 10 of them. Amongst my favorites, in no particular order:

  1. The Gift of Attention. Perhaps the best gift of all but in a growing world of less person to person connecting and conversation and more messaging one that is more rare-making it a perfect holiday gift. A gift card specifying on a particular date that you will spend uninterrupted time together. Other versions would include coupling this with a movie, task, or something a friend of mine does is they choose a different project to do together every year with his kids (might be painting a house, volunteering, or pub crawling).
  2. Serial Podcast. Terrific stuff.
  3. Evernote the workspace of your life’s work. Learning it should be as mandatory as typing.
  4. Newsletters. We have too much to read-but if you just stuck to these it would be enough (along with Medium subscription):
  • Granted by Adam Grant. Intriguing, stimulating thoughts and research
  • Brain Pickings. If you like books and great writing-be forewarned it is addicting.
  • Daniel Pink. Brilliant.
  • Barking up the wrong tree. Eric is just amazing-well read, practical, and based on evidence.
  • If you are in the serving business read this.

5. ToDoist. Yes lots of to do lists and task software but this is the best, easiest, integrates with all of your systems, and the most practical.

6. Workflowy. If you like list makers including list of lists you will love this.

7. Grammerly. How this interfaces with everything you write online is almost as amazing as how much it corrects your spelling and grammer. It is a must.

8. Lumosity. Best in brain science. See where you stand and train daily with great “games” that incorporate deliberate practice.

9. Get Some Headspace. Best for new meditators who want guided meditation without going eastern religion on you.

10. Jumpcut. Never lose old cut and pastes again.

Bonus: Zync-up! This incredible geo-locator app is the perfect solution for Where are you? Sync up with friends, family, and teams! Perfect for “honey, where are the kids?” (full disclosure, developed by my son!)

Happy Holidays my friends.